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Wounded Clarke County deputy returns to work

Cpl. J.T. Williams, left, takes paperwork from Sgt. Nancy Hagan during his first day back at work at the Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Ga. on Wednesday, June 27, 2012. Cpl. Williams was shot in the leg by a suspect behind the courthouse on Friday, June 8, 2012. Richard Hamm/Staff (OnlineAthens/Athens Banner-Herald)

The deputy returned to work Wednesday, less than three weeks after a man shot him outside the Clarke County Courthouse.

“I’m not pushing myself, but I’m a very driven person,” Williams said.

The deputy was shot in the leg by a mentally ill man on June 8, but the bullet missed major arteries and didn’t damage any muscle or cartilage before lodging in a bone just above his knee.

“I’m just glad it wasn’t a larger caliber gun,” said Williams, who was shot with a .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol.

After recovering from surgery at home, Williams started physical therapy Tuesday, and his doctor expects him to fully recover and return to full duty within six weeks.

Currently on light duty, the 50-year-old deputy believes his recovery is ahead of schedule and looks forward to getting out from behind a desk. He wants to return to his job on the road, serving warrants and civil papers.

“I love what I do and I enjoy being out in public and meeting people, so I am looking forward to getting back to my real job,” Williams said.

Williams joined the local sheriff’s office eight years ago, after he retired from the U.S. Air Force.

He was one of a group of deputies who on June 8 tried to get a mentally ill man from his mother’s car parked behind the Clarke County Courthouse.

Larry Lavelle Henderson was to attend a hearing before a probate court judge in an attempt to have him involuntarily committed to a mental hospital.

When he grew unruly after refusing to leave the car, a deputy shot Henderson with a taser. That’s when Henderson opened fire with the pistol, wounding Williams and barely missing another deputy.

Henderson was charged with four counts of aggravated assault, and last week a Superior Court judge ordered him to undergo a pretrial competency exam.

Meanwhile, Williams is fighting through the pain of rehab.

“I’m lucky that I try to stay in shape by running and working out, and I think my healthy lifestyle is contributing to my speedy recovery,” he said.

There was no “fanfare” when Williams showed up for work this morning, the deputy said, since he already makes regular visits to the courthouse.

He undergoes physical rehab at a facility on Prince Avenue not far from the courthouse, and he makes it a point to stop by to see fellow deputies following each appointment.

“I’ve been coming in pretty regular just to say hello to people, so it was no big thing when I came to work today,” Williams said.

“Everybody in the courthouse, the sheriff’s office and just the people of Athens in general, many who I don’t know, have been very supportive since I got shot, and that’s something that’s helped me and I really appreciate it,” Williams said.